I really find it surprising how much time & attention Media is giving to the election of a new Pope by the Catholic church. Are non Catholics really
that interested in Catholic Politics? and it is Political.

It is what's called a slow news cycle ... also, there all reportedly over a billion Catholics, so the media figures they have a big audience out there! Also, because the voting is done in secret, it leaves lots of room for rampant speculation!

At least it's better than coverage of murders and all the garbage that these newscasters dig up. I know my DIL in FL is glued to every tidbit of news about this election of the new pope - you'd think she had a direct connection to anything in the Catholic church. She's fanatical!!

I personally would like to know what is so secret and hush-hush about the election process. I think the Catholic people deserve the right to know what goes on behind those closed and locked doors - afterall - it will directly impact their lives. I know the Vatican is just following age old traditions, but maybe they need to change a bit - just as the times have changed!

No - I'm not Catholic............

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Wolfy ~ Fuzzbutt #3

My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet

Sparky the Fuzzbutt - PT's DOTD 8/3/2010
RIP 2/28/1999~10/9/2012

Myndi the Fuzzbutt - Mom's DOTD - Everyday
RIP 1/24/1996~8/9/2013

Ellie - Mom to the Fuzzbuttz

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power
To know just when the hands will stop - on what day, or what hour.
Now is the only time you have, so live it with a will -
Don't wait until tomorrow - the hands may then be still.
~~~~true author unknown~~~~

I personally would like to know what is so secret and hush-hush about the election process. I think the Catholic people deserve the right to know what goes on behind those closed and locked doors - afterall - it will directly impact their lives. I know the Vatican is just following age old traditions, but maybe they need to change a bit - just as the times have changed!

No - I'm not Catholic............

Everything about the running of the church is a secret. I am, or was, a Catholic. I will be eternally greatful for their school system, which is one of the
finest in this country, but I can't support the Catholic hierarchy response to the sex abuse scandals. They seem to put a priority on keeping the institution
intact instead of dealing with sexual perverts within the church who prey upon our children.

I've Been Boo'd

I've been Frosted

Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again.

I can't support the Catholic hierarchy response to the sex abuse scandals. They seem to put a priority on keeping the institution
intact instead of dealing with sexual perverts within the church who prey upon our children.

I don't understand that at all, and understand even less, the blind devotion of the many Catholics, to a church that seeks to sweep this issue under the rug, and protect the perpetrators.

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Wolfy ~ Fuzzbutt #3

My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet

Sparky the Fuzzbutt - PT's DOTD 8/3/2010
RIP 2/28/1999~10/9/2012

Myndi the Fuzzbutt - Mom's DOTD - Everyday
RIP 1/24/1996~8/9/2013

Ellie - Mom to the Fuzzbuttz

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power
To know just when the hands will stop - on what day, or what hour.
Now is the only time you have, so live it with a will -
Don't wait until tomorrow - the hands may then be still.
~~~~true author unknown~~~~

I don't understand that at all, and understand even less, the blind devotion of the many Catholics, to a church that seeks to sweep this issue under the rug, and protect the perpetrators.

There is a growing division within the Catholic church on this topic, among others, to drag the Church into the 20th century. Many others feel the need to speak out
and hope & pray for serious change within the church. ( I'm not at all hopeful that anything will change in my lifetime) This article offers a little insight from a Catholic
writer. http://www.thedailybeast.com/newswee...ic-church.html

I've Been Boo'd

I've been Frosted

Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again.

New Pope!

I am not Catholic, but it makes me a little happy and hopeful that the new Pope chose to be the first Pope Francis, as Saint Francis of Assisi was not only a notorious friend to birds and animals, but a reformer of the church as well.

His views While he is known for modernizing an Argentinian church considered to be among the most conservative in Latin America, he is also known for his strict views on morality -- having staunchly opposed same-sex marriage, contraception and abortion.
He has called adoption by gay parents a form of discrimination against children -- a stance that was publicly criticized by Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Still, Bergoglio has shown compassion for HIV and AIDS patients, visiting a hospice in 2001 to kiss and wash the feet of some of those affected by the disease.
He once accused his fellow church leaders of being hypocrites and lambasted them for forgetting that Jesus was known to bathe lepers and ate with prostitutes.
"Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the word in body as well as spirit," he told priests in Argentina last year.
“This is a man who goes into the shantytowns and cooks with the people," said Gerard O’Connell, CTV Vatican specialist. "I think the world is going to discover a very new style of being pope."Fast facts on Jorge Mario Bergoglio:

I am not Catholic, but it makes me a little happy and hopeful that the new Pope chose to be the first Pope Francis, as Saint Francis of Assisi was not only a notorious friend to birds and animals, but a reformer of the church as well.

I know nothing about this guy, but that made me smile.

I heard on the news that the new Pope chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, who cared for animals. I didn't know St. Francis was a church reformer. I also heard on the news that he is the first Jesuit Pope -- I went to Loyola University of Chicago, which is a Jesuit Catholic school. I'm not Catholic, though. Does he go back to Argentina before he takes over -- does he get an opportunity to pack up his things and say farewell to the people he had been working with there? Or, does he become the Pope immediately and they a new cardinal takes his position in Argentina?

I've been Boo'd... right off the stage!

Aaahh, I have been defrosted! Thank you, Bonny and Asiel!
Brrrr, I've been Frosted! Thank you, Asiel and Pomtzu!

"That's the power of kittens (and puppies too, of course): They can reduce us to quivering masses of Jell-O in about two seconds flat and make us like it. Good thing they don't have opposable thumbs or they'd surely have taken over the world by now." -- Paul Lukas

One way to get a crook out of Congress!

Rep. Darrell Issa is headed to New Hampshire next month to deliver an address at a venue that has been a must-do appearance for presidential aspirants.

The Vista Republican and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will speak to a joint session of the Concord Republican City and Merrimack County committees annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Monday, Feb. 17.

The one eyed man in the kingdom of the blind wasn't king, he was stoned for seeing light.

Okay, just got an email asking me to sign the "People versus Carbon" petition! Hello? Hello? Anyone home? Um, we humans (and most life on earth) are partially made up of Carbon - did a quick Google, and we are about 18% Carbon - not really something we can be opposed to and live, anyway!

Okay, just got an email asking me to sign the "People versus Carbon" petition! Hello? Hello? Anyone home? Um, we humans (and most life on earth) are partially made up of Carbon - did a quick Google, and we are about 18% Carbon - not really something we can be opposed to and live, anyway!

Really? That was what you took away from the petition? That if one opposes carbon, the human species dies? So, we need iron...OK to drop a ton of it in your yard/neighborhood and let it sit there?

I think the petition speaks more to atmospheric carbon, pollution and the stricter monitoring of coal/oil production. The local coal plant here is shutting down half its operation, as it won't be able to financially work the re-structuring necessary to address the nasty pollution.

Really? That was what you took away from the petition? That if one opposes carbon, the human species dies? So, we need iron...OK to drop a ton of it in your yard/neighborhood and let it sit there?

I think the petition speaks more to atmospheric carbon, pollution and the stricter monitoring of coal/oil production. The local coal plant here is shutting down half its operation, as it won't be able to financially work the re-structuring necessary to address the nasty pollution.

I knew they mean they oppose the burning of fossil fuels, and carbon emissions just thought the title of it was absurd! Glad for you your local coal plant is at least shutting down half its production/pollution, there are scrubbers, etc., that could be installed of course (Dad was a stationary engineer) but that does cost money to build and maintain ...

And thanks, we have a bunch of iron here - cars, including mine park outside! And of course, iron-y happens sometimes anyway!